Ryan Kennedy wants to set the record straight.

During a press conference Friday alongside his lawyers, the Lions fan, who was swiped at by Steelers receiver DK Metcalf last Sunday, denied the allegations that he directed a racial slur toward Metcalf.

“Being falsely branded as a racist is one of the most damaging accusations that a private citizen can endure,” his lawyer, Shawn Head, said as Kennedy sat next to him wearing a backwards Lions hat. “It’s dangerous and causes very real consequences and very real damage.”

Kennedy added: “I want to be crystal clear about one thing — I didn’t use any racial slurs, no hate speech, none of that stuff at the game.”

DK Metcalf swipes at a Lions fan during Steelers’ win on Dec. 21, 2025. CBSSports/X

Head did not rule out the possibility of legal action.

“The goal here is accountability and to correct the record,” Head said. “The false accusations or racial statements or racial slurs being used causes real damage and that needs to be corrected. … (Metcalf) can come out and tell the truth and indicate that he never heard any racial slur uttered by Mr. Kennedy.”

“Right now we’re evaluating all of our options, of course, and we’re going to make sure we use any legal remedies available to protect Ryan Kennedy and his family. We’re not going to litigate this in the media. We’re here, today, to set the record straight.”

The lawyer asked Metcalf on Friday to outright say that Kennedy didn’t yell a racial slur at the Steelers star and said he had previously reached out to the receiver’s camp to do so, but had not heard back.

That allegation picked up steam when Chad “OchoCinco” Johnson said he “got word” of that purportedly happening.

In a video from a fan sitting close to the altercation, it’s unclear what Kennedy said to Metcalf that sparked the incident.

“Obviously I am not condoning putting your hands on a fan or punching the fan but he did call him a racial slur, called him the n-word and he did call his mom a c—t,” Johnson said on his “Nightcap” podcast.

Head explicitly denied those claims.

Ryan Kennedy (l) and lawyer Sean Head (r). @FOX2Detroit/YouTube

“Ryan Kennedy did not use the n-word. Ryan Kennedy did not use the c-word, and he did not use any racial slurs whatsoever, at any time,” Head said. “Those claims are absolutely false. They’re not supported by any audio or video recordings, they’re not supported by any eyewitness statements and they’re not supported by the investigation that was conducted by Ford Field personnel on the day of the incident.”

Kennedy and Head said the allegations have resulted in his family receiving threats, and the lawyer added that the allegations have resulted in Kennedy’s unspecified business receiving bad reviews online.

Earlier this week to the Detroit Free Press, Kennedy claimed he called Metcalf by his government name, DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf, and that’s what bothered the receiver.

Head confirmed Friday that Kennedy called the receiver by his first name and asked him to sign a Steelers jersey.

DK Metcalf takes a swipe at a Lions fan on Dec. 21, 2025. Instagram/keiffer_kennedy

Kennedy once again used Metcalf’s first name in his plea Friday.

“DeKaylin, if you’re watching this, man, just, if you could just say that (he didn’t use a racial slur) please, like, my family is getting threats and stuff and it’s not cool,” Kennedy said. “Whether you said that or not, I’m sure you didn’t want that to happen to the family. Even if you did, like I forgive you, man.”

A report emerged earlier this week that Metcalf and this Lions fan have a history and that the receiver reported the fan last season while playing for the Seahawks.

Head acknowledged the complaint but said he did not know if Metcalf specifically filed it, while adding that it was investigated and no conduct violation had been found.

Dan Jackson #28 of the Detroit Lions misses a tackle on DK Metcalf #4 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Ford Field on December 21, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. Getty Images

The NFL suspended Metcalf for two games Monday for violating league policy, which will sideline Metcalf for the remainder of the regular season.

The 28-year-old is reportedly appealing the suspension, which would void $45 million in guarantees on his five-year, $150 million contract extension after arriving from Seattle to the Steelers in March.

Metcalf has 59 catches for 860 yards and six touchdowns across 15 games this season.

The Steelers will attempt to clinch the AFC North on the road without him against the Browns on Sunday.